Rare 1978 Mario Andretti John Player Team Lotus F1 World Champion Racing Jacket

Description: This Authentic original jacket hails from the iconic 1978 John Player Team Lotus, a year when Mario Andretti claimed the World Championship title and his teammate Ronnie Peterson posthumously secured second place. Andretti's relationship with Team Lotus dates back to the 1965 Indianapolis 500, where he met Colin Chapman, the owner of the Lotus Formula One team, which was running Jim Clark’s winning car. Expressing his desire to race in Formula One, Chapman told him, “When you’re ready, call me.” By 1968, Andretti felt prepared. Chapman provided him with a car, and Andretti made a stunning debut by taking pole position at the 1968 United States Grand Prix in Watkins Glen, driving a Lotus 49. After the Parnelli team withdrew from Formula One early in the 1976 season, Andretti returned to Lotus, where he had already driven the season opener in Brazil. At that time, Lotus was struggling, lacking a competitive successor to the 1970 Lotus 72. Andretti’s skill in car development helped propel Lotus back to the forefront of Formula One, with his standout performance at the final race in Japan, where he lapped the entire field to secure victory. In 1977, at Long Beach, Andretti became the only American to win the United States Grand Prix West and remains the last American to win a US Grand Prix as of 2020. The Lotus 78 “wing car” was highly competitive that year, but despite four victories, reliability issues and collisions kept Andretti third in the championship. The following year, the Lotus 79 took ground-effect aerodynamics to new heights, and Andretti claimed the World Championship with six wins, clinching the title at the Italian Grand Prix. This jacket is in excellent condition and serves as both a wearable and collectible item. While labeled as a size XL, comparable to today’s Medium.

Price: 905 USD

Location: Laguna Hills, California

End Time: 2024-12-17T19:41:42.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD